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Tod Button isn’t about to launch a marketing campaign to remedy the sorry public perception of the Calgary Flames’ drafting prowess.

Every fan is entitled to his or her opinion, Button says. And in this case, the body of evidence suggests there’s work to be done for the Flames in the draft department.

No argument from the head scout on that count.

“We’re our own worst critics — myself and our scouting staff,” Button says from his home in Burlington, Ont. “When we miss a player or we make a pick that doesn’t turn out, we try to learn from it. There’s nobody on the outside that’s going to influence us into thinking we’re terrible scouts or we haven’t done a good job.

“We know the job we’ve done. Is it the best in the league? Absolutely not. We’re always striving to get there.”

His message to frustrated Flames followers: look closely at the draft prospects from recent years and draw your own conclusions.

Sure, some fans have never recovered from the likes of Rico Fata (sixth overall in 1996) and Daniel Tkaczuk (sixth overall in 1997) And sure, some of the faithful still bemoan the selection of Kris Chucko (24th overall in 2004) over Chicago Blackhawks pest David Bolland, Washington Capitals rearguard Mike Green and Boston Bruins centre David Krejci.

Fata stuck around in Calgary for 27 games before bouncing around the league as a fourth-line journeyman. Tkaczuk’s NHL tenure lasted 19 games, all in Calgary. And while still only 24, Chucko has just two NHL games on his resume.

In recent years, Button contends Calgary’s performance at the draft table has improved with general manager Darryl Sutter at the helm.

Seriously.

“I honestly believe in the last three or four years, the approach Darryl is taking and the job our scouts has done has been pretty good,” Button says. “In two or three years, it might turn out to be a lot better than people are saying now.

“We’re not going to pimp our prospects. We don’t get out there and say, ‘Look at what these kids are doing.’ We let them develop at their own pace.”

Button himself is an intriguing story of survival. Hired by Al Coates in 1997, Button worked for his older brother Craig for three years between 2000 and 2003 before Sutter took over as sheriff of the hockey operations department.

With every NHL regime change comes the threat of massive personnel changes in the scouting department.

Never an easy one to please, Sutter opted to keep Button around.

“Sure I was concerned at first,” Button says. “It’s natural when new bosses come in. Sometimes they make changes, sometimes, they don’t.”

In this case, Sutter didn’t. But behind the scenes, the not-so-jolly rancher has overhauled the Flames scouting department.

When Sutter took over, the Flames employed just three full-time amateur scouts. That number has ballooned to eight full-timers and four part-timers.

Button oversees the operation as head scout. Mike Sands is the director of amateur scouting. Al Tuer, of Vernon, B.C., and Blair Reid of Medicine Hat, take care of Western Canada. Tom Webster is based in Windsor and looks after Ontario. . American scout Rob Pulford is based in Chicago, and former Flame Bobby MacMillan takes care of Quebec and the Maritimes from his base in Prince Edward Island.

In Sweden, Anders Steen works on a full-time basis on behalf of the Flames. Juha Hautamaa chips in part-time from Finland. “We’ve put a lot more resources into it,” Button says. “Ownership has been great in that aspect.

“Because of added emphasis on scouting, I think you’re seeing a lot more prospects coming since 2005.”

For the record, Button counts 2001 as his first real draft as the man in charge at the table (aside from the general manager, of course.) The most successful draft pick of his tenure? Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2003 draft.

The biggest drafting disappointment of Button’s tenure, thus far, could be Chucko, although he’s coming off an injury-plagued season that saw him battle severe post-concussion syndrome and whiplash.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you Kris Chucko is a first-line player in the NHL,” Button says. “You can look at the results and see where he is right now. Is it tough for Kris? I’m sure it is.

“The hardest part with Kris is that he’s been criticized since Day 1 and he’s probably developed a pretty good mental toughness there.”

Injuries also prevented defenceman Matt Pelech (26th overall) from trying to make his mark in the NHL in 2009/10. Look for the Flames to give him a legitimate shot next season.

Goaltenders are generally known for developing at a slower rater than their counterparts, but the case of Leland Irving (26th overall in 2006) is a bit troubling for Flames fans.

Irving finished the 2009/10 season with the Abbotsford Heat on the bench behind American Hockey League journeyman David Shantz.

“In our organization, we’re not going to give anybody spots just because of their draft status,” Button says.

“We tell the kids when they’re drafted that everything is even. There’s no first or second pick. Whoever progresses the best and does the most work is going to get the opportunity.”

In 34 games with the Heat last season, Irving posted 14 wins with a goals-against average of 2.76 and a save percentage of .905.

“It’s not a negative that Leland is where he is now,” Button says. “We all want these 18-year-old kids to be in the NHL by the time they’re 20. I don’t think it’s always realistic, and I think Leland is still on pace for where we thought he would be.”

Mikael Backlund is exactly where Flames fans wanted him to be after Calgary selected him in the first round (24th overall) of the 2007 draft.

Backlund scored one goal and 10 points this season in 23 games with the big team. At the end of the year, head coach Brent Sutter singled out the Swedish rookie as one of his best players down the stretch.

“I don’t like to over-hype guys,” Button says.

“I think he’s a solid player, and I think he has a chance to be a top player. Is he a special one? You have to define special.

“He has all the ability to play in the NHL and be a solid player for lots of years. He’s s a top-six forward. He can shoot. He can pass. He’s a smart player. He has all the assets that you’re looking for in offensive players.”

Power forward Greg Nemisz, Calgary’s first round (25th overall) selection in the 2008 draft, shares plenty of the same attributes — although the Windsor Spitfires sniper doesn’t have Backlund’s foot speed.

“He’s not going to go end-to-end and blow by guys with his speed,” Button says “He’s going to be an average to better-than average skater in the NHL

“He has to get stronger. He has to get a bit quicker. For us, that’s just part of the development process.”

In 2009, the Flames selected another Swede in the first round in defenceman Tim Erixon.

Erixon is expected to play in his third world junior tournament this winter on behalf of Sweden.

“He does everything,” Button says. “He’s got an all-around game. He can do whatever you want. For us, that’s exciting. He’s not a one-dimensional guy.

The Flames were once guilty, Button says, of being a tad one-dimensional when it came to preparing for the draft.

“We were so top-heavy when Darryl came on board as far as putting a lot of emphasis on our first pick,” Button says.

“Sometimes, you let the other picks slide.”

That can’t happen, especially this year with Flames not picking until the third round.

In the third round last year, the Flames selected Ryan Howse from the Chilliwack Bruins. The kid proceeded to tear up the Western Hockey League last year with 47 goals and 72 points in 72 games.

That production earned him an invite the Canadian junior team development camp this summer in St. John’s N.L.

“Hey, 47 goals, that’s phenomenal,” Button says.

“It’s a natural thing for him. He has that touch and it’s neat to watch him in the game.”

Overall, Button figures the Flames are much better off than some of the critics may like to admit.

But he’s willing to take whatever beatings may come his way this week through the countless hours of televised draft analysis.

“The TSN panel, they’re going by what they’ve heard or the Hockey News rankings or some independent scout,” he says.

“And that’s fine. That’s fair. That’s their job. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t feel like I have to respond to it.

“I think as long as the people in the organization — my bosses and ownership — see the work that’s being done and see that we do have prospects, then those are the people I respond to.”

vhall@theherald.canwest.com

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Hits and Misses: Flames head scout defends recent draft record as 'pretty good'

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